When to Expect Your Baby's First Laugh and Other Milestones

by Mary Munier

by Mary Munier

If you are a new parent you probably find yourself wondering about your baby's next milestone. When will my baby smile? When will my baby say his first word? When will my baby first produce happy sounds of laughter? These developmental events vary for each child, but you can look forward to the special moments according to these guidelines.

When Will My Baby Smile?

Your baby's first smile is a major milestone in his life and yours. According to the Colgate Oral and Dental Care Resource Center, your baby's first smile signals the beginning of his attempts to interact socially. Although most babies smile from their first day of life, they don't smile as a form of interaction until they are about two months old. At this stage, they begin to recognize you and mimic your facial expressions.

When Will I Hear My Baby's First Laugh?

After your baby begins to interact with you and your loved ones regularly, his smile will eventually erupt into the joyous sounds of laughter. This is likely to happen at about four or five months old, according to Parents.com. Making silly sounds, playing peek-a-boo and making funny faces are all likely to make your baby giggle and laugh.

When Will My Baby Begin to Speak?

Language development varies. In some children, it can happen as early as six months old. During the earlier months, your child is learning to decode sounds. You'll hear a full vocabulary of gurgles and noises coming from your child in those early days.

Then, as the child becomes more comfortable making noises, he'll use his mouth, tongue and emerging teeth to form his first words. As the American Academy of Pediatrics points out, the primary teeth play a key role in your baby's ability to learn to speak clearly, so it is important to care for them properly.

Before long, your child's laugh will be replaced with the sound of his car pulling out of the driveway. Time flies when you're a parent, so enjoy the early milestones while you can.

INFANT ORAL CARE

Overview

While most babies don't start getting teeth until they are 6 months old, infant dental care is important from the very beginning. Many dentists recommend an initial visit before the child's first birthday to make sure teeth and gums are cared for and cleaned properly.

What to Expect During INFANCY

Teething – between 3 and 9 months, your infant's baby teeth will begin to erupt. Teething may make your child irritable or fussy and may cause restlessness, drooling or loss of appetite.

Pacifiers – sucking is a normal part of development that is comforting to children well into their first years of life. In fact, sucking often brings comfort even after a child no longer needs to get nourishment from a breast or bottle.

Baby bottle tooth decay – this occurs when acid formed by bacteria on the teeth, from sugars in foods and beverages, damages the tooth enamel. This causes demineralization, and eventually can lead to a cavity.